- DivorceFamily Law - Divorce, Custody, Asset and Property Division, Support, Maintenance, Mediation, Alimony, Marriage Settlement Agreement, Domestic Violence, Uncontested Divorce, Contested Matrimonial Law
- Spousal Support
- Child AbuseCapital and Life Felonies: Murder, Rape, Kidnapping and an aggravated factor like lewd and lascivious conduct on a child or even child abuse. Drug Trafficking.
- Criminal DefenseWe understand the decision to hire appellate counsel comes with great pains. Generally, we are hired to file an appeal after an unfortunate conviction, sentencing or final hearing. Because the lawyers at Whittel & Melton, LLC have extensive experience representing those charged with crimes at the trial level, we have a unique perspective with respect to our criminal appeal work in Florida.
- DUI/DWIIf you have hired an attorney who is either incapable or unwilling to try your DUI case, we will defend you and enforce your right to trial by a jury of your peers. There is always another option. Call now for a free consultation. Do not settle for inexperience or lack of courage.
- Wrongful DeathIf negligence was what caused you or your loved one’s construction accident injuries or wrongful death, then you may have a legitimate legal claim for compensation.
- Traffic ViolationsWhile this is a heartbreaking tragedy, it is also extremely frustrating because the driver had a history of tickets for traffic violations that included...
- Sex CrimesThe average payout for a personal injury case would be hard to determine without consideration for many details. For starters, different types of cases are handled differently, the types of results found in car accidents, slip and falls, nursing home abuse, clergy sexual assault, aviation wrongful death, amusement park death and disfigurement, hotel parking lot negligent security, truck and semi accidents and motorcycle crashes, just to name a few, are all so different – and then you could get into the types of people that have those cases, their backgrounds, their wage loss and business opportunity – or how about the jurisdictions? It’s common knowledge in the Florida legal community that some jurisdictions have a jury pool that take corporate responsibility and insurance company promises more seriously than others. So I guess the answer is, it all depends. How Do I Find a Good Personal Injury Attorney?
- FraudOur Class Action Attorneys at Whittel & Melton are currently pursuing a number of lawsuits on behalf of clients who have been injured because of a recall or announcement. Consumer Fraud
- Robbery2nd Degree Felony: Sale of Cocaine, Child Pornography with Intent to Promote, Robbery by Sudden Snatch, DUI Manslaughter, Traveling to Meet a Minor;
- Burglary3rd Degree Felony: Possession of Child Pornography, DUI Serious Bodily Injury, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Stalking, Burglary, Child Abuse, Felony Battery, Fleeing and Eluding, Leaving Scene of an Accident with Injury; All Misdemeanors
- White Collar CrimesWe handle both felony and misdemeanor charges in state and federal courts. Criminal cases that we have handled have included DUI, drug crimes, violent crimes, sex crimes, theft crimes, white collar crimes, juvenile offenses, probation violations, and traffic offenses. The appropriate defense to raise will depend on the nature of the charge and the surrounding circumstances. For example, if you are charged with a drug crime, we might investigate the way in which law enforcement collected the evidence against you. If it failed to comply with constitutional requirements, we might be able to get the evidence suppressed. DUI Defense
- Theft
- MisdemeanorsPrior to joining Whittel & Melton, Mr. Sheslow served as an Assistant Public Defender in Manatee County, Florida. Mr. Sheslow accumulated an impressive trial record while with the Public Defender’s Office. He was quickly promoted from a Misdemeanor to Felony case load in less than 10 months. Mr. Sheslow has tried over 20 cases ranging from DUIs and Domestic Batteries to life felonies. He has earned acquittals in serious cases such as firearms offenses and sex offenses.
- Drug CrimesDid the arrest involve other criminal charges like resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, battery or battery on a law enforcement officer, reckless driving, racing on the highway, driving on a suspended or revoked license, no valid driver’s license, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a control substance, drug trafficking?
- Assault
- MurderA Wrongful Death can occur when the actions of a person, persons or company are determined to be negligent and they cause or are determined to be the legal cause of an injury which leads to a death that otherwise was avoidable. It is important to note that Wrongful Death is not the same as Murder. Murder is generally defined as an intentional act and us commonly resolved in criminal court, although they can also give rise to civil claim. In Florida, a Wrongful Death lawsuit can be based on simple negligence like a car accident or pedestrian accident, or something more complicated, like nursing home abuse or medical error and malpractice. What Type of Case is a Wrongful Death?
- Probation ViolationOur office handles all State and Federal felony and misdemeanor charges. Our firm handles crimes such as DUI, DUI Manslaughter, DUI Serious Bodily Injury, all drug crimes, including, Trafficking, Sale, Distribution, Purchase, Cultivation, we also handle violent crimes such as Murder, Battery, Assault, Weapons Charges, all sex crimes such as Rape, Lewd & Lascivious, Indecent Exposure, Sexual Battery, Traveling to Meet a Minor, Sex Sting or Cyber Sex Sting Operations, all theft crimes such as Burglary, Grand Theft, Home Invasion, Carjacking, Fraud, all juvenile offenses, white collar crimes, traffic offenses and probation violations. Because of our vast experience, we have experience in handling very rare charges like Animal Cruelty, Culpable Negligence, Racing on the Highway – there really is not a criminal charge we have not worked on. Please call us today for a free consultation.
- HomicidePrior to joining the firm, Mr. Klemawesch worked as an Assistant State Attorney in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Pinellas County, Florida, where he tried over seventy-five cases to juries, including cases involving homicide, hate crimes, sexual battery, weapons charges, and many other areas. He was a member of the Vehicular Homicide Squad, focused on the investigation and prosecution of severe DUI cases involving significant injuries and deaths.
- Kidnapping
- ManslaughterMore than three years after a Wellington polo mogul was convicted for a second time of DUI manslaughter in a 2010 crash that killed a 23-year-old UCF…
- ProstitutionIncluding: DUI, DUI with property damage, Assault, Battery, Prostitution, Theft, DWLS (Driving on a Suspended License), Leaving the Scene of an Accident All Criminal Traffic and Civil Citation Infractions
- Workers Compensation
- Wrongful Termination
- Employment DiscriminationWage and hour violations can involve wage theft, a failure to pay the minimum wage, a failure to pay overtime, and more. Whether you are paid hourly or on a salary does not affect whether you are entitled to be paid overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Your eligibility for overtime is dictated by whether you are an exempt or non-exempt employee, based on the legal criteria for these categories and your job duties, occupation, and wages. There are harsh penalties that can be rendered against an employer that fails to pay overtime or retaliates against you for seeking unpaid wages. Employment Discrimination
- Employment LitigationWhether you were injured in a car accident, arrested for DUI, or denied your proper wages, you should consult a skillful trial attorney. At Whittel & Melton, our success and reputation are recognized by colleagues and judges alike. We are dedicated to developing and maintaining long-term relationships in communities in which we practice. Call us at 866-608-5529 or contact us via our online form for a free consultation with an injury attorney in Hernando County or guidance in a criminal case or employment dispute.
- Sexual Harassment
- Premises LiabilityFlorida is a popular state for motorcyclists, but it also has a high rate of motorcycle accidents. Motorcyclists deserve the same respect on the road as anyone in a vehicle. Unfortunately, drivers of larger vehicles do not always give them the right of way when they are entitled to it. Some drivers fail to give them enough space when making turns or changing lanes. A motorcycle rider may be able to recover compensation from a driver who caused a crash. Our Hernando County injury lawyers can help a victim fight back against any allegations that they were at fault so that they can maximize their damages award. Premises Liability
- Property DamageWhen you have suffered harm in a Florida car accident, you need a Florida Car Accident Attorney who has experience helping injury victims like yourself. Our Florida Car Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton have decades of experience handling auto accident claims, so we understand what you are going through and we can answer all of your questions regarding your insurance claim like how much is your case worth and how long will it take to get a fair settlement amount. We will provide you with the straight forward answers you need regarding medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering and how to complete all the necessary paperwork to get your claim going.
- Personal InjuryA personal injury matter may involve any careless, reckless, or intentional act that causes harm to a victim. There are various theories under which a personal injury lawsuit may proceed. The most common theory is negligence, in which an injury attorney in Hernando County can help a victim argue that the defendant failed to use reasonable care, thereby causing harm to the victim. However, defendants also can be held liable under a theory of strict liability in some cases. Our firm handles lawsuits arising out of car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, slip and fall accidents, and other accidents.
- Medical MalpracticeOur Florida Birth Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton know how exciting it is to have a baby, which is why birth injuries are one of the most tragic forms of medical malpractice. A birth injury can be a heartbreaking loss for parents, and we want you to know that we are here for you with considerable knowledge and resources at our disposal to help with your birth injury negligence claim. Injured mothers and the families of injured children deserve justice and we want to help make sure that happens. You can speak with us today to learn more about how we can help you recover for your injuries or injuries on behalf of your injured child.
- Auto Accidents
- Dog BitesTracee L. Ivins graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology. After graduation she worked for the State of Florida as a certified investigator, before deciding to pursue a law degree. As an attorney Ms. Ivins has handled files from inception all the way to a jury verdict. Her experience has included claims involving serious bodily injury, product liability injury and wrongful death arising from auto accidents, slip and falls, dog bites, negligent security, motorcycle and tractor trailer accidents.
- Estate Planning
- Wills
- Trusts
- ProbateDOROTHY K. HUFNAGEL has been practicing law in the Florida State Circuit Court and County Court system since 2005 as well as the the Federal Court systems since 2008. Ms. Hufnagel focuses her practice on civil litigation matters (that include the areas of Employment, Family, Bankruptcy, and Probate law) as well as providing counsel to both individuals and businesses about their personal and corporate needs. Ms. Hufnagel is dedicated in helping the community, giving her time to assist hundreds of families with personal legal issues, as well as helping both businesses and employees alike protect their financial positions. Ms. Hufnagel has primarily practiced in the 5th (Hernando, Citrus, Sumter, Marion & Lake County), 6th (Pasco and Pinellas County) and 13th (Hillsborough, Tampa) Judicial Circuits.
- Bankruptcy